making sure your children have the right level of support

In many situations child support can be agreed by the parents and child support does not become a conflicted issue. In other circumstances child support can be the cause of heated and longstanding debate.

Child support can be agreed by the parties, assessed by the Child Support Agency, reviewed by the Child Support Agency, or ultimately assessed or reviewed by the Court.

To prevent ongoing dispute over child support the parents can enter into a Binding Child Support Agreement. This type of agreement commonly runs until the children turn 18 years of age, and requires both parties to have a lawyer to advise and sign off on the agreement.

Careful legal advice and drafting of the binding child support agreement is necessary to ensure it adequately provides for the children and also includes termination clauses when child support may stop being payable if certain events occur.

Binding child support agreements can include:-

• Agreed weekly or monthly support payments

• No weekly or monthly support payments

• Lump sum child support payments

• Payments for schooling, health, or other agreed expenses

A Binding Child Support Agreement can be done at the same time as a Family Law Property Settlement so that the financial relationships of the parties are resolved in all respects at the same time.

Unless arrangements for child support are agreed by the parties, they will be as assessed by the child support agency. The assessment is done according to the child support formula, and a child support calculator can be found on the child support agency website.

We can assist your child support needs by:-

• Negotiating and draft Binding Child Support Agreements

• Varying Child Support Assessments

• Applying to the Court on Child Support matters.

Child Support arrangements can be quite complex and for this reason Millwater Tyrrell Law offer a free initial consultation to discuss your child support situation with our expert Ipswich Family Lawyers.